Paddington 2- PG

Paddington 2

Release date: 10.11.2017

Trailer

Description: Settled in with the Brown family, Paddington the bear is a popular member of the community who spreads joy and marmalade wherever he goes. One fine day, he spots a pop-up book in an antique shop — the perfect present for his beloved aunt’s 100th birthday. When a thief steals the prized book, Paddington embarks on an epic quest to unmask the culprit before Aunt Lucy’s big celebration.

The good

Paddington and the Brown family are back, and they’re as charming as ever. This is the perfect antidote to the current climate and stresses of every day life.

From the opening narrated letter to Aunt Lucy to the films resolution you will be uplifted to the point of tears.

There’s a whose who of British talent who happily take on the number of flamboyant cameos. Some will go over the heads of international viewers, but there are enough Potter alumni to keep everyone happy.

The bad

A good chunk of the film takes place within Portobello prison. Here we get one of my favourite additions to the whole film; Brendan Gleason as chef inmate “knuckles”. Full disclosure, I have a soft spot for all the Gleason men but I’ll challenge anyone to hate the gruff cook who’s heart melts at Paddington’s influence. The one thing that enables an audience feel fulfilled is the progression and development; and you get it with Knuckles in all its Han Solo-esque glory.

The way in which the prison is ran is very fanciful and I LOVE that. It reminds me of a book I don’t remember the title of in which the parents of the protagonist purposely get themselves thrown into prison so they don’t have to cook for themselves. It’s clear that the film isn’t glamourising or even commenting upon the prison system; it’s simply just having harmless fun.

The ugly

I ugly cried. This film has found a winning formula and has worked out that tears are better when formed because of positive and bittersweet motivations. In a tone similar to It’s a Wonderful Life, it will render anyone with an open heart a blubbering mess. Thankfully, the film offers you some mid-credit sequences so you can sort yourself out before leaving the cinema.